Government of Jiri Paroubek hands in resignation

The way to a new Czech minority government was made possible on Wednesday morning, with the Social Democratic government led by Jiri Paroubek submitting its resignation to President Vaclav Klaus. The unanimous vote came after more than ten weeks of post-election negotiations over the formation of the Czech Republic's next government. A coalition of Social Democrats, the Christian Democrats and the Freedom Union led by Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek was in power for nearly sixteen months.

Now, Mr. Paroubek says that Mirek Topolanek and his Civic Democrats should get a chance to try and govern, but that the Social Democrats prefer to tolerate a new minority government for only two years. Earlier this week, Mr. Paroubek indicated that support for a minority Civic Democratic government would depend on approval of Mr. Topolanek's proposed cabinet, as well as key policy issues like the proposed flat tax, and a national referendum regarding the possible establishment of a US missile defense base on Czech territory.

The current government's ministers will stay in their posts until a new cabinet is formed. As it stands, the country also has two prime ministers, with Jiri Paroubek standing as the acting prime minister until Mirek Topolanek forms a new cabinet.